Harry Houdini : The Man, The Myth, The Spy, The Secret Service Agent, page 2

Originally posted by drift393
Interesting theory although I think incorrect. The Secret Service has always been an organization focused toward the Treasury Department i.e. counterfeit money, fraudulent claims against the government in terms of credit card fraud land fraud etc. Later to the protection of the President later the protection of former presidents and later to foreign dignitaries. Yes they have gone "undercover" in cases to investigate a group or individual perpetrating these crimes. In 1908 some Secret Service agents were transfered into the Department of Justice to start up the FBI. I will check into this a bit more but pretty sure at this point no he was not a Secret Service Agent. Hope this helps.

edit for fat fingers

[edit on 13-3-2008 by drift393]

You know I speak with knowing the facts. It is stated within the book about the clandestine recruiting of Harry Houdini. If you care to read the book, here's the link :

The Secret Life of Houdini: The Making of America's First Superhero

Here's a different book which I read that states some unknown facts about the Secret Service, like the fact that they acted like an intelligence gathering spy agency at one time :

The Secret Service: The Hidden History of an Engimatic Agency

Below is a short explanation of the book's description from Amazon.

This new edition of the definitive history of the Secret Service lays bare the 2004 Bush campaign’s political uses of the agency and the new challenges it faces as a branch of the Homeland Security Department, in a post-9/11 world.

Acclaimed scholar of political violence and governmental secrecy Philip Melanson explores the long-hidden workings of the Secret Service since its inception in 1865 and through rigorous research and extensive interviews with former White House staffers and retired agents, uncovers startling facts about the Agency’s role in such traumatic national events as the assassination of JFK and the shooting of President Reagan.

Included, too, are revelations about presidential demands on the agency; the problems of alcoholism, divorce, and burnout among agents; and the Service’s inexplicable failure to develop profiles of potential assassins. Up-to-date and explosive, this book assails the public image of the Secret Service as a highly professional apolitical organization, exposing the often-detrimental influence that politics exerts on the Agency.

While the Secret Service has been a Presidential Protection agency through the Treasury Department it's role has not always been about protecting the President. From the book you see that it was an added responsibility to them, and that for a time they did not even get paid for the Presidential protection since it was an unofficial duty.

Trust Me I investigate details of what I speak and I am a thorough person.

[edit on 13-3-2008 by SpartanKingLeonidas]